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Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu (31 October 1895 – 14 November 1967) was an Indian cricketer and cricket administrator who served as the first captain of the
Indian national cricket team The India men's national cricket team, also known as Men in Blue, represents India in international cricket. It is governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India and is a full member nation of the International Cricket Council with ...
. He is widely regarded as one of India's greatest cricketers. Nayudu's
first-class cricket First-class cricket, along with List A cricket and Twenty20 cricket, is one of the highest-standard forms of cricket. A first-class match is of three or more days scheduled duration between two sides of eleven players each and is officially adju ...
career spanned 47 years, from 1916 to 1963, a world record. He was a right-handed batsman, an accurate medium pace bowler, and a fine fielder. Known for his aggressive batting style, his ability to hit long sixes sent crowds into a frenzy and became legendary in Indian cricket folklore. Nayudu was named one of the
Wisden Cricketers of the Year The ''Wisden'' Cricketers of the Year are cricketers selected for the honour by the annual publication ''Wisden Cricketers' Almanack'', based "primarily for their influence on the previous English season". The award began in 1889 with the naming ...
in 1933 and, in 1956, became the first cricketer to receive the
Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan (IAST: ''Padma Bhūṣaṇa'', lit. 'Lotus Decoration') is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 Januar ...
from the
Government of India The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...
. Nayudu's prime days were with the
Hindus Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
team in the
Bombay Quadrangular The Bombay Tournament was an annual cricket competition held in British India between 1892 and 1946. Until 1936, matches were played on either the Gymkhana Ground in Bombay or the Deccan Gymkhana Ground in Poona, and then at the Brabourne Stadi ...
tournament in the 1920s and 1930s, where he was the highest run-scorer in the history of the tournament. His standout performance came in 1926–27 when he scored 153 runs in 116 minutes, hitting 11 sixes against the visiting
Marylebone Cricket Club The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is a cricket club founded in 1787 and based since 1814 at Lord's, Lord's Cricket Ground, which it owns, in St John's Wood, London, England. The club was the governing body of cricket from 1788 to 1989 and retain ...
(MCC), which paved the way for India's elevation to
Test status Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to: * Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities Arts and entertainment * ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film * ''Test'' (2014 film) ...
. Nayudu led India in their first-ever Test match in the 1932 England tour. He was the leading run-getter for India in the tour and also picked up 65 wickets as a bowler. He also led the Indian team in three more Tests when the England team visited India for their first official tour in 1933–34. After retiring from Test cricket, Nayudu led the Holkar team to eight
Ranji Trophy The Ranji Trophy is a premier domestic first-class cricket championship played in India and organized annually by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The teams representing regional and state cricket associations participate. BCCI ...
finals in nine years, winning four titles. His career-best score of 200 came at the age of 51, making him one of the few players to score a double century in first-class cricket after turning 50. Beyond his playing career, Nayudu served as vice-president of the
Board of Control for Cricket in India The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the principal national governing body of the sport of cricket in India. Its headquarters are situated at the Cricket Centre in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. BCCI is the wealthiest governing body ...
(BCCI) and the chairman of the national selection committee. He was also instrumental in establishing the
Andhra Cricket Association Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) is the governing body of cricket in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The association is affiliated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and governs the Andhra cricket team. The association was ...
and served as its founder president. In 1923, the
ruler A ruler, sometimes called a rule, scale, line gauge, or metre/meter stick, is an instrument used to make length measurements, whereby a length is read from a series of markings called "rules" along an edge of the device. Usually, the instr ...
of Holkar State invited Nayudu to stay in
Indore Indore (; ISO 15919, ISO: , ) is the largest and most populous Cities in India, city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The commercial capital of the state, it has been declared as the List of cleanest cities in India, cleanest city of In ...
and conferred upon him the rank of
colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
in the state's army. Nayudu is generally considered as 'India's first cricket superstar'. Historian
Ramachandra Guha Ramachandra "Ram" Guha (born 29 April 1958) is an Indian historian, environmentalist, writer and public intellectual whose research interests include social, political, contemporary, environmental and cricket history. He is an important autho ...
noted of him, "C. K. Nayudu was the first Indian cricketer to be a popular hero, whose appeal transcended the barriers of caste, class, gender and religion. Each of his sixes was interpreted as a nationalist answer to the
British Raj The British Raj ( ; from Hindustani language, Hindustani , 'reign', 'rule' or 'government') was the colonial rule of the British The Crown, Crown on the Indian subcontinent, * * lasting from 1858 to 1947. * * It is also called Crown rule ...
." In recognition of his legacy, the BCCI instituted the C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994, and the C. K. Nayudu Trophy, an under-25 domestic cricket competition, is named in his honour.


Background


Family history

C. K. Nayudu's ancestors belonged to
Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of South India ** Telugu literature, is the body of works written in the Telugu language. * Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Tel ...
-speaking Kapu communityM. L. Kantha Rao (July 1999)
''A Study of the Socio-Political Mobility of the Kapu Caste in Modern Andhra''
.
University of Hyderabad The University of Hyderabad (UoH) is a prestigious public central research university located in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Established in 1974, this mostly residential campus has more than 5,000 students and 400 faculty, from ...
. Chapter 6. p. 301–303. hdl:10603/25437
of
Machilipatnam Machilipatnam (), also known as Masulipatnam and Bandar (), is a city in Krishna district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipal corporation and the administrative headquarters of Krishna district. It is also the Tehsil, mandal ...
in
Krishna district Krishna district is a district in the Coastal Andhra region in Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, with Machilipatnam as its administrative headquarters. It is surrounded on the East by Bay of Bengal, West by Guntur district, Guntur, Bapatla distric ...
of
Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (ISO 15919, ISO: , , AP) is a States and union territories of India, state on the East Coast of India, east coast of southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, seventh-largest state and th ...
. Nayudu's great-grandfather moved from Machilipatnam to
Hyderabad Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...
, where he worked as an interpreter to the
Nizam of Hyderabad Nizam of Hyderabad was the title of the ruler of Hyderabad State ( part of the Indian state of Telangana, and the Kalyana-Karnataka region of Karnataka). ''Nizam'' is a shortened form of (; ), and was the title bestowed upon Asaf Jah I wh ...
. Nayudu's grandfather, Cottari Narayanaswamy Nayudu settled in Nagpur. Narayanaswamy studied law there and became a well-known lawyer in the city. He was also a landlord and an early member of the
Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a political parties in India, political party in India with deep roots in most regions of India. Founded on 28 December 1885, it was the first mo ...
. Narayanaswamy was affluent enough to send both his sons to
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
for further studies. The younger son, Surya Prakash Rao Nayudu, C. K. Nayudu's father, studied law at
Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
, where he was a contemporary of
Ranjitsinhji Colonel Kumar Sri Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji II, (10 September 1872 – 2 April 1933), often known as Ranji or K. S. Ranjitsinhji, was an Indian cricketer who later became ruler of his native Indian princely state of Nawanagar State, Nawan ...
. Later, he came back to Nagpur and practiced there as a lawyer. After his return from England, he also brought the sport of cricket to the city. The Nayudus are considered as the pioneers of cricket in Nagpur. He was a Justice in High Court of Holkar State for some years. He had four sons and two daughters.


Early life

Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu was born on 31 October 1895 in
Nagpur Nagpur (; ISO 15919, ISO: ''Nāgapura'') is the second capital and third-largest city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is called the heart of India because of its central geographical location. It is the largest and most populated city i ...
,
Central Provinces The Central Provinces was a province of British India. It comprised British conquests from the Mughals and Marathas in central India, and covered parts of present-day Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra states. Nagpur was the primary ...
to the
Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of South India ** Telugu literature, is the body of works written in the Telugu language. * Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Tel ...
-speaking Kapu family of Cottari Surya Prakash Rao Nayudu and Mahalaxmi. In 1896, at a cricket match played between soldiers and the Nayudu Club XI, Narayanaswamy distributed copper coins to mark the birth of his grandson. C. K. Nayudu was the eldest of four brothers. He was drafted into the school team at the age of seven, and showed promise for a bright future. He studied at St. Francis De'Sales High School and later joined Hislop College. Nayudu captained his school and college at cricket. He also excelled in
hockey ''Hockey'' is a family of List of stick sports, stick sports where two opposing teams use hockey sticks to propel a ball or disk into a goal. There are many types of hockey, and the individual sports vary in rules, numbers of players, apparel, ...
and
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
. He reportedly ran in 11 seconds in his youth. While still in high school, he became the captain of Modi Cricket Club. In his early playing days, he received coaching from R. Rajanna. Initially, Nayudu had been a defensive batsman. But, his father, Surya Prakash Rao, changed his outlook and encouraged him to attack more.


Career


Early career

Nayudu made his first-class debut in 1916 in the
Bombay Quadrangular The Bombay Tournament was an annual cricket competition held in British India between 1892 and 1946. Until 1936, matches were played on either the Gymkhana Ground in Bombay or the Deccan Gymkhana Ground in Poona, and then at the Brabourne Stadi ...
. Playing for the
Hindus Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
against the Europeans, he came in to bat at No. 9 with his team tottering at 79 for 7. His first scoring shot was a six. But, he only managed 37 runs in the two innings – 27 in the first and 10 in the second. As a bowler, he picked up four wickets for 97 runs. In 1917, he hit an unbeaten 80 in the final of the Bombay Quadrangular against the
Parsis The Parsis or Parsees () are a Zoroastrian ethnic group in the Indian subcontinent. They are descended from Persian refugees who migrated to the Indian subcontinent during and after the Arab-Islamic conquest of Iran in the 7th century, w ...
. In 1918, he scored his first hundred playing for an Indian XI against
Lord Willingdon Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon (12 September 1866 – 12 August 1941), styled as the Earl of Willingdon between 1931 and 1936, was a British people, British Liberal Party (UK), Liberal politician and administrator who served ...
's England side at
Bombay Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial centre, financial capital and the list of cities i ...
. He scored 122 as the hosts won by an innings. He represented the Central Provinces in 1919 and Madras in 1920. Over the next few years, his consistent big hitting became a part of the Indian cricket folklore. In December 1920, he scored 120 runs against the
Europeans Europeans are the focus of European ethnology, the field of anthropology related to the various ethnic groups that reside in the states of Europe. Groups may be defined by common ancestry, language, faith, historical continuity, etc. There are ...
in
Madras Chennai, also known as Madras ( its official name until 1996), is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. According to the 2011 Indian ce ...
. One of the sixes cleared the boundary wall of the
Chepauk Chepauk is a locality in Chennai, India. The name Chepauk is popularly used to refer to the M. A. Chidambaram International Cricket Stadium, also known as the Chepauk Stadium. It is also home to the Chepauk Palace, built in the Indo-Saraceni ...
compound and landed beyond the ground. The six was estimated to be about .


Knock against the MCC

Nayudu burst onto the cricketing scene with his knock of 153 in 116 minutes at the
Bombay Gymkhana The Bombay Gymkhana, established in 1875, is a premier private members' club in the city of Mumbai, India. It is located at the triangular end of Azad Maidan in the Fort area of South Mumbai and is in close proximity of Chhatrapati Shivaji ...
, playing for
Hindus Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
against the visiting
Marylebone Cricket Club The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is a cricket club founded in 1787 and based since 1814 at Lord's, Lord's Cricket Ground, which it owns, in St John's Wood, London, England. The club was the governing body of cricket from 1788 to 1989 and retain ...
(MCC) led by Arthur Gilligan in 1926–27. MCC's bowling attack included the likes of
Maurice Tate Maurice William Tate (30 May 1895 – 18 May 1956) was an English cricketer of the 1920s and 1930s and the leader of England's Test bowling attack for a long time during this period. He was also the first Sussex cricketer to take a wicket wit ...
, George Geary, and
Bob Wyatt Robert Elliott Storey Wyatt (2 May 1901 – 20 April 1995) was an English cricketer who played for Warwickshire, Worcestershire and England in a career lasting nearly thirty years from 1923 to 1951. He was born at Milford Heath House in Surrey ...
. His century came in just 65 minutes. The knock included 11 sixes which was a new world record in first-class cricket. As per the statistician
Anandji Dossa Anandji Jamnadas Dossa (September 15, 1916 – September 22, 2014, in New York City) was an Indian cricket statistician. He represented his school and Wilson college in inter-school and inter-collegiate cricket while growing up in Bombay. He was ...
, "Nayudu took 16 scoring strokes to get to fifty, 17 more to reach his century and another 16 to get to his final score." MCC presented a silver bat to Nayudu for his spectacular innings.
Simon Barnes Simon Barnes is an English journalist. He was chief sports writer of ''The Times'' until 2014, and wrote a wildlife opinion column in the Saturday edition of the same newspaper. He has written three novels. The son of Edward Barnes, a co-cr ...
writing for ''Wisden India Almanack 2016'' remarked on Nayudu's innings as follows:
"Here was an innings that changed sporting history and perhaps affected real history as well. Certainly it subverted the archetype of the Indian cricketer, at least as viewed by the English, as someone under-sized, meek, and rather devious. Here was an innings that stood for extravagance, high spirits and flamboyance."
Gilligan was an influential person in English cricket and he lobbied for India's entry into
Test cricket Test cricket is a Forms of cricket, format of the sport of cricket, considered the game’s most prestigious and traditional form. Often referred to as the "ultimate test" of a cricketer's skill, endurance, and temperament, it is a format of i ...
. His efforts bore fruit and led to the formation of the Indian cricket board in 1928 and India was granted Test status. Nayudu's innings paved way for India's elevation to Test status.


Test career


Captaining the first Indian Test Team

India gained Test status in 1931 and a national team representing India was set to tour England in 1932 as part of their first Test series. In the immediate months before the England tour, the
Viceroy of India The governor-general of India (1833 to 1950, from 1858 to 1947 the viceroy and governor-general of India, commonly shortened to viceroy of India) was the representative of the monarch of the United Kingdom in their capacity as the Emperor of ...
,
Lord Willingdon Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon (12 September 1866 – 12 August 1941), styled as the Earl of Willingdon between 1931 and 1936, was a British people, British Liberal Party (UK), Liberal politician and administrator who served ...
believed that the team ought to be captained by an English player. It was suggested that an Englishman playing in India, like Alec Hosie, C. P. Johnstone or
Reginald Lagden Reginald Bousfield Lagden (15 April 1893 – 20 October 1944) was a British businessman and sporting administrator in Calcutta. He was a Blue (university sport), double blue at the University of Cambridge, in cricket and field hockey, and went ...
, should captain the team, to placate the factions within the tour party.
BCCI The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the principal national governing body of the sport of cricket in India. Its headquarters are situated at the Cricket Centre in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. BCCI is the wealthiest governing body ...
resolved that the captain would be an Indian. Indian cricket at the time was financially patronised by princes and various people of royal background were lobbying for the captaincy. By this time, Nayudu was already considered a legend in Indian cricket. Despite Nayudu's overwhelming credentials to captain the side, the
Maharaja of Patiala The Maharaja of Patiala was the title of the ruler of the princely state of Patiala State, Patiala, in Presidencies and provinces of British India, British India. The first ruler of Patiala was Baba Ala Singh (1691 – 1765), who held the title o ...
and the Prince of Limbdi were appointed as captain and deputy captain respectively. Maharajkumar of Vizianagaram "Vizzy" was made the deputy vice-captain. Two weeks before the tour, Maharaja of Patiala withdrew, being busy with his state affairs, and the Maharaja of Porbander was appointed as the captain. Vizzy withdrew from the tour apparently on reasons of health and form. Maharaja of Porbander relinquished captaincy on the English tour and it was passed on to Prince of Limbdi, who was injured on the eve of the first Test. The captaincy was finally passed down to Nayudu. However, some of the Indian players protested the decision. In the middle of the night, they had woken up the tour captain, the Maharajah of Porbandar, and told him they only wanted to be led by royalty and not by a 'commoner' like Nayudu. Cables were exchanged with officials in India and the Maharaja of Patiala ordered the players to accept Nayudu's captaincy. Thus, Nayudu became the first ever captain of the Indian national team in Test cricket. He was 36 by the time of his test debut. Despite a painful hand injury while fielding, he top scored with 40 in the first innings. He also took the key wickets of
Douglas Jardine Douglas Robert Jardine ( 1900 – 1958) was a Scottish cricketer who played 22 Test matches for England, captaining the side in 15 of those matches between 1931 and 1934. A right-handed batsman, he is best known for captaining the English ...
and Eddie Paynter. ''
The Cricketer ''The Cricketer'' is a monthly English cricket magazine providing writing and photography from international, county, club and schools cricket. Overview The magazine was founded in 1921 by Sir Pelham Warner, an ex-England captain turned cric ...
'' wrote of Nayudu's bowling as, "Nayudu is a clever bowler. Medium pace he flights the ball, can spin it from the off and sends down a faster delivery." Earlier in the tour, Nayudu recorded a century scoring 118 not out on his first appearance at
Lord's Lord's Cricket Ground, commonly known as Lord's, is a cricket List of Test cricket grounds, venue in St John's Wood, Westminster. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and is the home of Middlesex C ...
, against the MCC. He had a great run throughout the tour. He was the leading run-getter for India in the tour aggregating 1,618 runs, with five centuries, at an
average In colloquial, ordinary language, an average is a single number or value that best represents a set of data. The type of average taken as most typically representative of a list of numbers is the arithmetic mean the sum of the numbers divided by ...
of over 40. As a bowler, he took 65 wickets at an
average In colloquial, ordinary language, an average is a single number or value that best represents a set of data. The type of average taken as most typically representative of a list of numbers is the arithmetic mean the sum of the numbers divided by ...
of 25 runs per wicket and his best performance came when he took five wickets for 21 runs against
Leicestershire Leicestershire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire to the north, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire to the south-east, Warw ...
. Only strike bowlers
Mohammad Nissar Mohammad Nissar (; 1 August 1910 – 11 March 1963) was a cricketer, who played as a fast bowler for the pre-independence Indian cricket team and domestic teams in India and Pakistan. He was born into a Punjabi family in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, an ...
and Amar Singh took more wickets on the tour. One of Nayudu's sixes at
Edgbaston Edgbaston () is a suburb of Birmingham, West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. It lies immediately south-west of Birmingham city centre, and was historically in Warwickshire. The Ward (electoral subdivision), wards of Edgbaston and Nort ...
, was said to have cleared the county, crossing the
River Rea The River Rea (pronounced "ray") is a small river which passes through Birmingham, England. It is the river on which Birmingham was founded by the Beorma tribe in the 7th century. Name The name of the Rea derives from a root found in many I ...
, which then formed the boundary between
Warwickshire Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Staffordshire and Leicestershire to the north, Northamptonshire to the east, Ox ...
and
Worcestershire Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Shropshire, Staffordshire, and the West Midlands (county), West ...
. Overall, 26 matches were played in the tour with India winning 9 matches, losing 9, and 8 matches ending up as a draw. His leadership skills and all-round performances on the tour led ''Wisden'' to name him as one of their five '
Cricketers of the Year The ''Wisden'' Cricketers of the Year are cricketers selected for the honour by the annual publication ''Wisden Cricketers' Almanack'', based "primarily for their influence on the previous English season". The award began in 1889 with the naming ...
' for 1933. This made him the first cricketer who played for India to be honoured by ''Wisden''.


Final Tests

Nayudu also led the Indian team in three more Tests when the England team captained by
Douglas Jardine Douglas Robert Jardine ( 1900 – 1958) was a Scottish cricketer who played 22 Test matches for England, captaining the side in 15 of those matches between 1931 and 1934. A right-handed batsman, he is best known for captaining the English ...
visited India for their first official tour in 1933–34. In the first Test at Bombay,
Lala Amarnath Lala Amarnath Bhardwaj (11 September 1911 – 5 August 2000) was an Indian cricketer. He is considered to be the father figure of Indian cricket. He scored the first ever century for India in Test Cricket in 1933. He was independent India's fir ...
and Nayudu put up a partnership of 186 for the third wicket. Nayudu scored 67, while Amarnath became the first Indian batsman to score a Test century with a knock of 118 runs. Nayudu was the captain of India in their first four Test matches, losing three and drawing one at
Eden Gardens Eden Gardens is an international cricket stadium in Kolkata (Calcutta), India. Established in 1864, it is the oldest and second-largest cricket stadium in India and third-largest in the world. The stadium currently has a capacity of 68,000. ...
in 1934. Nayudu was also a part of the Indian team that toured England in 1936. However, the captaincy had passed to Maharajkumar of Vizianagaram who got the role through lobbying and manipulation. Nayudu played his last Test match in the tour. In that match, despite a painful blow from
Gubby Allen Sir George Oswald Browning "Gubby" Allen CBE (31 July 190229 November 1989) was a cricketer who captained England in eleven Test matches. In first-class matches, he played for Middlesex and Cambridge University. A fast bowler and hard-hit ...
, he scored 81 runshis highest score in Test cricket. He scored 1,102 runs at an
average In colloquial, ordinary language, an average is a single number or value that best represents a set of data. The type of average taken as most typically representative of a list of numbers is the arithmetic mean the sum of the numbers divided by ...
of over 26, and captured 51 wickets at an
average In colloquial, ordinary language, an average is a single number or value that best represents a set of data. The type of average taken as most typically representative of a list of numbers is the arithmetic mean the sum of the numbers divided by ...
of 31.78 runs per wicket in the tour. ''Wisden'' noted about his performance as'','' "So brilliant a success on his previous visit to England, C. K. Nayudu disappointed both himself and his friends." But, Nayudu bowled well, and took the largest number of wickets next only to Nissar.


Later years

Nayudu led
Holkar The Holkars (pronunciation: �o(ː)ɭkəɾ were the ruling house of the Indore State of the Maratha Confederacy, and earlier held the rank of Subahdar under Peshwa Baji Rao I of the Maratha Empire. When the Maratha Confederacy began to we ...
to eight Ranji Trophy finals in nine years, out of which they won four. In 1944–45 season, the cricket board celebrated his 50th birth anniversary by organising a match between the
Cricket Club of India Cricket Club of India (CCI) is a cricket club located on Dinsha Wacha Road, in Churchgate of Mumbai, India. It was conceived as India's counterpart to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). It is considered one of the most prestigious clubs in the na ...
and CK Nayudu's XI.
Gul Mohammad Gul Mohammad , sometimes referred to as Gul Mahomed, (15 October 1921 – 8 May 1992) played Test cricket for India and Pakistan. He was educated at Islamia College, Lahore. Gul Mohammad was a small man who stood only 5' 5, but a brilliant a ...
and
Denis Compton Denis Charles Scott Compton (23 May 1918 – 23 April 1997) was an English multi-sportsman. As a cricketer he played in 78 Test matches and spent his whole career with Middlesex. As a footballer, he played as a winger and spent most of his ca ...
played for Nayudu's team in the match. In the next season, Nayudu scored 101 against
Mysore Mysore ( ), officially Mysuru (), is a city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Mysore district and Mysore division. As the traditional seat of the Wadiyar dynasty, the city functioned as the capital of the ...
and 200 against
Baroda Vadodara (), also known as Baroda, is a city situated on the banks of the Vishwamitri River in the Indian state of Gujarat. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Vadodara district. The city is named for its abundance of banyan ...
in back to back matches. He led Holkar to a win in the 1952–53 Ranji finals against
Bengal Bengal ( ) is a Historical geography, historical geographical, ethnolinguistic and cultural term referring to a region in the Eastern South Asia, eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. The region of Benga ...
and retired from first-class cricket. He also resigned from his post as a Colonel of Holkar state. However, in 1956–57, Nayudu was asked to come out of retirement to assist
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
in their Ranji Trophy campaign. Early in the season he had made 84 against
Rajasthan Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...
, striking
Vinoo Mankad Mulvantrai Himmatlal "Vinoo" Mankad (; 12 April 1917 – 21 August 1978) was a former Captain of Indian cricket team and appeared in 44 Test matches for India between 1946 and 1959. He was best known for his world record setting opening partn ...
for two sixes. He made his last appearance in Ranji Trophy in the same season, aged 62, scoring 52 in his last innings against
Bombay Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial centre, financial capital and the list of cities i ...
. His final outing was in a charity match in 1963–64. Aged 68, he played for the Maharashtra Governor's XI against the Maharashtra Chief Minister's XI. He played for various domestic teams in his career including
Hindus Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
,
Madras Chennai, also known as Madras ( its official name until 1996), is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. According to the 2011 Indian ce ...
,
Hyderabad Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...
,
Central India Central India refers to a geographical region of India that generally includes the states of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The Central Zonal Council, established by the Government of India, includes these states as well as Uttar Prades ...
, Holkar,
Andhra Andhra Pradesh (ISO: , , AP) is a state on the east coast of southern India. It is the seventh-largest state and the tenth-most populous in the country. Telugu is the most widely spoken language in the state, as well as its official lang ...
,
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
. He made over 12,000 runs in first class cricket. He holds the world record for the longest first-class career lasting over 47 years. His career-best innings was 200 in the Ranji Trophy, made at the age of 51. He was one of the few batsmen in first-class cricket to have scored a double century after the age of 50. He made 2,567 runs with five centuries in the Ranji Trophy at an average of 36.67. He was also the highest run-scorer in the history of the
Bombay Quadrangular The Bombay Tournament was an annual cricket competition held in British India between 1892 and 1946. Until 1936, matches were played on either the Gymkhana Ground in Bombay or the Deccan Gymkhana Ground in Poona, and then at the Brabourne Stadi ...
tournament with 2,156 runs at an average of 45.87.


Cricket Administrator

Post-retirement, Nayudu served as the chairman of the national selection committee, vice-president of the
BCCI The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the principal national governing body of the sport of cricket in India. Its headquarters are situated at the Cricket Centre in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. BCCI is the wealthiest governing body ...
, and as a radio commentator. As the chairman of the selection committee, he personally conducted selection trials for promising first-class cricketers. Though in his late 50s, he would face the young bowlers without
leg guards Pads (also called leg guards) are a type of protective equipment used in a number of sports and serve to protect the legs from the impact of a hard ball, puck, or other object of play travelling at high speed which could otherwise cause injuries t ...
, abdomen and thigh guards, and would ask them to bowl at full pace. He was instrumental in the formation of
Andhra Cricket Association Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) is the governing body of cricket in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The association is affiliated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and governs the Andhra cricket team. The association was ...
and was its founder president. He and his brother, C. S. Nayudu, played in
Guntur Guntur (), natively spelt as Gunturu, is a city in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of Guntur district. The city is part of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region and is lo ...
and mentored the local Andhra cricketers. Aged 58, C. K. Nayudu led the
Andhra Andhra Pradesh (ISO: , , AP) is a state on the east coast of southern India. It is the seventh-largest state and the tenth-most populous in the country. Telugu is the most widely spoken language in the state, as well as its official lang ...
team in its first
Ranji Trophy The Ranji Trophy is a premier domestic first-class cricket championship played in India and organized annually by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The teams representing regional and state cricket associations participate. BCCI ...
match against
Mysore Mysore ( ), officially Mysuru (), is a city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Mysore district and Mysore division. As the traditional seat of the Wadiyar dynasty, the city functioned as the capital of the ...
in the 1953–54 season. He also scored the team's first-ever fifty in that match.


Style and technique

Nayudu played in an era when hitting lofted shots was considered risky and transgressive. But, he was always ready to go for his shots. He was particularly known for hitting long sixes. His ability to hit sixes nonchalantly sent crowds into a frenzy. His very-first scoring shot in first-class cricket was a six. According to him, batting should involve the use of entire body and it's not just about 'elbow up' and 'left leg forward' alone as mentioned in cricket manuals.
Bob Wyatt Robert Elliott Storey Wyatt (2 May 1901 – 20 April 1995) was an English cricketer who played for Warwickshire, Worcestershire and England in a career lasting nearly thirty years from 1923 to 1951. He was born at Milford Heath House in Surrey ...
, who played against Nayudu, noted that he was not a mere slogger, for 'his perfect poise, high backlift in a long pendulum swing brought beauty to his strokes'. Nayudu taught himself to bear physical pain. In one Ranji Trophy match, he was struck on the mouth by a ball which broke two front teeth. He refused medical assistance, brushed the teeth off the wicket with his bat. He requested his rival captain,
Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
's
Madhav Mantri Madhavi Krishnaji Mantri (1 September 1921 – 23 May 2014) was an Indian cricketer who played in four Test matches between 1951 and 1955. Born in Nasik, Maharashtra, he was a right-handed opening batsman and specialist wicket-keeper who repr ...
to instruct the bowler Dattu Phadkar to continue bowling fast. In the
Oval An oval () is a closed curve in a plane which resembles the outline of an egg. The term is not very specific, but in some areas of mathematics (projective geometry, technical drawing, etc.), it is given a more precise definition, which may inc ...
Test of 1936, despite receiving a painful blow from
Gubby Allen Sir George Oswald Browning "Gubby" Allen CBE (31 July 190229 November 1989) was a cricketer who captained England in eleven Test matches. In first-class matches, he played for Middlesex and Cambridge University. A fast bowler and hard-hit ...
, he made a successful attempt to continue batting and hooked the next ball to the boundary. He scored 81 runshis highest score in Test cricket and denied England an innings victory. He was tough and expected others to have the same kind of toughness.


Personal life

Nayudu moved with his family from
Nagpur Nagpur (; ISO 15919, ISO: ''Nāgapura'') is the second capital and third-largest city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is called the heart of India because of its central geographical location. It is the largest and most populated city i ...
to
Indore Indore (; ISO 15919, ISO: , ) is the largest and most populous Cities in India, city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The commercial capital of the state, it has been declared as the List of cleanest cities in India, cleanest city of In ...
after he was commissioned by the ruler of Holkar State,
Tukojirao Holkar III Maharajadhiraj Sir Raj Rajeshwar Sawai Shri Tukojirao III Holkar XIII Bahadur (26 November 1890 – 21 May 1978) was the Maharaja of the Princely Indore State in central India between 1903 and 1926. Early years Tukoji was born in 1890, the s ...
, with the rank of a
captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
in his state's army. His home had a Telugu milieu even though they were based outside
Andhra Andhra Pradesh (ISO: , , AP) is a state on the east coast of southern India. It is the seventh-largest state and the tenth-most populous in the country. Telugu is the most widely spoken language in the state, as well as its official lang ...
. He was a strict
disciplinarian Discipline is the self-control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed, and the ability to keep working at something that is difficult. Disciplinarians believe that such self-control is of the utmost importance and enforce a ...
both on the field and with his family too. On off days between matches, he would regularly host his teammates at his house and would regale them with stories from his cricketing career. He was a
chain smoker Chain smoking is the practice of smoking several cigarettes in succession, sometimes using the ember of a finishing cigarette to light the next. The term chain smoker often also refers to a person who smokes relatively constantly, though not nec ...
. He was also eccentric on particular issues. He routinely asked players to not consume water in the drinks break as he thought it wasn't good for their fitness. His first wife, Chandramma died only a few years after their wedding. He later married Gunawati. He had nine children from his two marriagesseven daughters and two sons. His son, Prakash Nayudu was a sportsperson who represented
Madhya Pradesh cricket team The Madhya Pradesh cricket team formerly known as Holkar cricket team, is a domestic cricket team based in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It competes in the Ranji Trophy. History Holkar cricket team A Central India team competed in th ...
and was a National Junior
Table Tennis Table tennis (also known as ping-pong) is a racket sport derived from tennis but distinguished by its playing surface being atop a stationary table, rather than the Tennis court, court on which players stand. Either individually or in teams of ...
champion. Prakash was also an
Indian Police Service The Indian Police Service (IPS) is a civil service under the All India Services. It replaced the Indian Imperial Police in 1948, a year after India became Partition of India, independent from the British Empire. Along with the Indian Admini ...
officer. His other son, C. N. Nayudu also played first-class cricket for Madhya Pradesh. His daughter, Chandra Nayudu was India's first female cricket commentator. His grandson, Vijay Nayudu represented Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy. His granddaughter Manjula Rao is an advocate and served as a special public prosecutor in the Best Bakery case. His younger brother, C. S. Nayudu also played
Test cricket Test cricket is a Forms of cricket, format of the sport of cricket, considered the game’s most prestigious and traditional form. Often referred to as the "ultimate test" of a cricketer's skill, endurance, and temperament, it is a format of i ...
for India. His other younger brothers C. L. Nayudu and C. R. Nayudu were first-class cricketers. A few months before his 72nd birthday, Nayudu suffered a stroke. It left him unconscious and he was confined to a bed from then on till his death half-a-year later. He lost his speech during his last days and visitors were not allowed to meet him. He died on 14 November 1967 in Indore at the age of 72. D. B. Deodhar attributed Nayudu's death to his habit of chain-smoking.


Reputation and legacy

Nayudu is widely regarded as one of India's greatest cricketers. He was the first Indian cricketer to endorse a brand in 1941. His name was even used to promote movies. V. Shantaram's ''Duniya Na Mane'' (1937) featured Nayudu's name in hoardings to advertise the film. The
Government of India The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...
awarded Nayudu
Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan (IAST: ''Padma Bhūṣaṇa'', lit. 'Lotus Decoration') is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 Januar ...
, the third highest civilian honour, in 1956. He was the first ever cricketer to be conferred the award. In 2006, the
BCCI The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the principal national governing body of the sport of cricket in India. Its headquarters are situated at the Cricket Centre in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. BCCI is the wealthiest governing body ...
instituted an award named the Col C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, given to individuals for their unparalleled lifetime contribution to Indian cricket. From the 1973–74 season, India's under-25 domestic tournament has been known as C. K. Nayudu Trophy. One of the banquet halls in
Cricket Club of India Cricket Club of India (CCI) is a cricket club located on Dinsha Wacha Road, in Churchgate of Mumbai, India. It was conceived as India's counterpart to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). It is considered one of the most prestigious clubs in the na ...
, the C. K. Nayudu Hall is named after him. He was inducted into the Wisden India Hall of Fame in 2014. In Nayudu's birthplace
Nagpur Nagpur (; ISO 15919, ISO: ''Nāgapura'') is the second capital and third-largest city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is called the heart of India because of its central geographical location. It is the largest and most populated city i ...
, a street has been named after him and a bronze bust with his likeness stands in the premises of the
Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground The Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground is a cricket ground located in the city of Nagpur. The ground is known as the VCA Ground and belongs to the Central Zone. The first match was played here in October 1969. As of 19 August 2017, it has ho ...
. Nehru Stadium in
Indore Indore (; ISO 15919, ISO: , ) is the largest and most populous Cities in India, city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The commercial capital of the state, it has been declared as the List of cleanest cities in India, cleanest city of In ...
sports a statue of Nayudu, outside its main entrance. One of its stands and a pavilion block in the same stadium were also named after him. Another statue was installed at the
Holkar Stadium Holkar Cricket Stadium is located in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is owned and operated by Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association and serves as its headquarter. It is the home ground of Madhya Pradesh cricket team as well as MP women's team. ...
, Indore in 2023. A road was named after him in his ancestral hometown
Machilipatnam Machilipatnam (), also known as Masulipatnam and Bandar (), is a city in Krishna district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipal corporation and the administrative headquarters of Krishna district. It is also the Tehsil, mandal ...
by the then
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh The chief minister of Andhra Pradesh is the chief executive of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. In accordance with the Constitution of India, the governor is a state's ''de jure'' head, but '' de facto'' executive authority rests with the ch ...
Kasu Brahmananda Reddy Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (28 July 1909 – 20 May 1994) was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, India, from 29 February 1964 to 30 September 1971. On 3 June 1977, he was elected president of the Indian National Congress. Early life Kasu Brahma ...
. In 2018, a statue of Nayudu was inaugurated in Machilipatnam by the former Indian team captain
Anil Kumble Anil Kumble (; born 17 October 1970) is a former Indian cricketer, captain, coach and commentator who played Test cricket, Test and One Day International cricket for his national team over an international career of 18 years. A right-arm leg sp ...
. On 4 April 2005, a bronze statue of Nayudu titled 'The Colossus of Cricket' was unveiled near the entrance of the ACA-VDCA Stadium in
Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam (; List of renamed places in India, formerly known as Vizagapatam, and also referred to as Vizag, Visakha, and Waltair) is the largest and most populous metropolitan city in the States and union territories of India, Indian stat ...
. Cricket historian
Ramachandra Guha Ramachandra "Ram" Guha (born 29 April 1958) is an Indian historian, environmentalist, writer and public intellectual whose research interests include social, political, contemporary, environmental and cricket history. He is an important autho ...
called Nayudu 'the first great Indian cricketer'. In 2001, Guha included him in his All-Star Eleven team of great Indian cricketers with a countrywide popularity whose stardom persisted beyond retirement. Nayudu was also chosen as the captain of the team. Various other commentators have remarked on him as 'India's first cricket superstar', and as 'the first world-class cricketer from India'. Dicky Rutnagur, the sports journalist, once wrote that schoolboys left their classes and businessmen stopped trading to be at
Bombay Gymkhana The Bombay Gymkhana, established in 1875, is a premier private members' club in the city of Mumbai, India. It is located at the triangular end of Azad Maidan in the Fort area of South Mumbai and is in close proximity of Chhatrapati Shivaji ...
when they heard that C. K. Nayudu had arrived at the crease. Syed Mushtaq Ali rated him as the best captain he had played under. Commentator Ravi Chaturvedi wrote of him, "It was his lyrical style that made him one of the greatest players that the country has ever produced. He gave the game the grace of a
ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...
that was applauded by its spectators, who otherwise used to witness it as a combat." Vasant Raiji called Nayudu 'the Shahenshah of Indian Cricket' ().


References

Citations Bibliography * *


Further reading

*Eskari, ''C. K. Nayudu: A Cricketer of Charm'', Calcutta: Illustrated News, 1945. *
A. F. S. Talyarkhan Ardeshir Furdorji Sohrabji "Bobby" Talyarkhan (1897–13 July 1990) was an Indian cricket commentator. Talyarkhan was one of the earliest cricket commentators in India. His radio commentaries played an important role in spreading of the game an ...
, ‘C. K. Nayudu As We Knew Him’, in ''On with the Game'', Bombay: Hind Kitabs, 1945. * Gerald Howat
Captains galore—India's first official Test match, at Lord's in 1932
''
The Cricketer ''The Cricketer'' is a monthly English cricket magazine providing writing and photography from international, county, club and schools cricket. Overview The magazine was founded in 1921 by Sir Pelham Warner, an ex-England captain turned cric ...
'', July 2002 * Vasant Raiji, ''C.K. Nayudu: the Shahenshah of Indian Cricket'', Mumbai: Marine Sports, 1989. *
Mihir Bose Mihir Bose (born 12 January 1947) is a British Indian journalist and author. He writes a weekly "Big Sports Interview" for the ''London Evening Standard'', and also writes and broadcasts on sport and social and historical issues for several ou ...
, ''A History of Indian Cricket'', London: Andre Deutsch, 1990. *L.N. Mathur, ''C.K. Nayudu – Legend in His Life Time'', Udaipur: Shiva Publishers, 1996. *
Ramachandra Guha Ramachandra "Ram" Guha (born 29 April 1958) is an Indian historian, environmentalist, writer and public intellectual whose research interests include social, political, contemporary, environmental and cricket history. He is an important autho ...
, ‘The First Great Indian Cricketer: C. K. Nayudu’, in ''An Anthropologist among the Marxists and Other Essays'', Delhi: Permanent Black, 2001. *Souvik Naha, ‘Producing the First Indian Cricketing Superhero: Nationalism, Body Culture, Consumption and the C.K. Nayudu Phenomenon', ''International Journal of the History of Sport'' volume 29, no. 4, 2012,


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nayudu, C. K. 1895 births 1967 deaths Telugu cricketers India Test cricket captains Hyderabad cricketers India Test cricketers Indian cricketers Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in sports Telugu people People from Machilipatnam Cricketers from Nagpur Cricketers from Indore Wisden Cricketers of the Year Hindus cricketers Central India cricketers Holkar cricketers Uttar Pradesh cricketers East Zone cricketers Central Zone cricketers Andhra cricketers Roshanara Club cricketers